Stops for force sensor

Abstract

A piloting device for piloting an aircraft includes a piloting member suitable for being actuated by a pilot, a mechanism for mounting and guiding in rotation the piloting member about at least one rotation axis with respect to a frame, at least one force sensor connected between the piloting member. The mechanism includes at least one sensing element configured to produce a signal upon deformation indicative of a force applied to the piloting member. The force sensor comprises at least one pair of bearing surfaces. The device also includes at least one pair of stops configured to limit the angular amplitude of rotation of the piloting member with respect to the frame on abutment of the at least one pair of bearing surfaces with at least one pair of stops. The stops or at least one of the bearing surfaces comprises a compliant material.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A piloting device for piloting an aircraft, comprising:
 a piloting member suitable for being actuated by a pilot; 
 a mechanism for mounting and guiding in rotation the piloting member about at least one rotation axis with respect to a frame; 
 at least one force sensor connected between the piloting member and the mechanism comprising at least one sensing element configured to produce a signal upon deformation indicative of a force applied to the piloting member, 
 wherein the force sensor comprises at least one pair of bearing surfaces; and 
 at least one pair of stops configured to limit the angular amplitude of rotation of the piloting member with respect to the frame on abutment of the at least one pair of bearing surfaces with at least one pair of stops, 
 wherein at least one of the stops and/or at least one of the bearing surfaces comprises a compliant material; 
 wherein compliant material is affixed to at least one stop on a side facing the force sensor; 
 wherein each stop including compliant material further comprises a non-compliant material on a side of the compliant material facing the force sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The piloting device of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is configured to mount and guide the rotation of the piloting member about a first axis, the piloting member configured to rotate about said first axis in a first direction and an opposite second direction. 
     
     
       3. The piloting device of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation along the first axis of the piloting member in the first direction is limited by a first pair of stops configured to abut a corresponding first pair of bearing surfaces on the force sensor. 
     
     
       4. The piloting device of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation along the first axis of the piloting member in the second direction is limited by a second pair of stops configured to abut a corresponding second pair of bearing surfaces on the force sensor. 
     
     
       5. The piloting device of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism is configured to mount and guide the rotation of the piloting member about a second axis, the piloting member configured to rotate about said second axis in a third direction and an opposite fourth direction. 
     
     
       6. The piloting device of  claim 5 , wherein the rotation along the second axis of the piloting member in the third direction is limited by a third pair of stops configured to abut a corresponding third pair of bearing surfaces on the force sensor. 
     
     
       7. The piloting device of  claim 5 , wherein the rotation along the second axis of the piloting member in the fourth direction is limited by a fourth pair of stops configured to abut a corresponding fourth pair of bearing surfaces on the force sensor. 
     
     
       8. The piloting device of  claim 5 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
       9. The piloting device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces is provided with a compliant material on a side facing the corresponding pair of stops. 
     
     
       10. The piloting device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the stops is provided with a mechanical feature configured to facilitate incorporation of compliant material therein. 
     
     
       11. The piloting device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bearing surfaces is provided with a mechanical feature configured to facilitate incorporation of compliant material therein. 
     
     
       12. The piloting device of  claim 1 , wherein the compliant material is provided with a mechanical feature configured to facilitate incorporation thereof into at least one of the stops and/or at least one of the bearing surfaces. 
     
     
       13. A method of addressing a force sensor error, comprising
 moving one or more bearing surfaces of a force sensor of a piloting device as recited in  claim 1  into abutment with the one or more mechanical stops.